Functionalized silica synthesized by sol–gel process

This work considers some aspects of the chemistry involved in the preparation and description of silicon oxide functionalized by sol–gel process. In this work we studied the synthesis and measured the properties of silicon oxide functionalized with 3-chloropropyl, through a sol–gel process. Thermogravimetic analysis, infrared spectra, and elemental analyses were measured. The samples were prepared in the following proportions of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS): 3-chloropropyl trimethoxisilane molar ratio: 1:0, 1:1, 2:1, 3:1 and 4:1. The thermogravimetric data for the resulting materials established the `minimum formulae' 2:0, 3:1, 4:1, 7:1 and 11:1, respectively. As expected, the relative amount of water is inversely proportional to the presence of propyl groups. Infrared data show Si–C and –CH2– vibration modes at 1250 to 1280 and 2920 to 2940 cm−1, respectively. Thermogravimetric data and infrared spectra showed that inorganic polymers contained organic polymers.